FURIOUS residents besieged what they referred to as a ‘secret’ meeting of Abergavenny Town Council on Monday to protest about plans for a 130-home development at Chapel Farm Fields.

The meeting in the council chamber - which council members described as ‘a briefing’ - was hastily cancelled after a large group of vociferous and determined members of the public challenged the authority of the council and questioned the legality of the exclusion.

The meeting was to have taken place between town council members and representatives of Hallam Land Management Limited - the strategic land and planning promotion arm of the Henry Boot Group.

As members of the public attempted to follow the councillors up the stairs to the council chamber they were blocked by mayoress, Councillor Penny Simcock who, in a tense exchange with a protester, attempted to remove his hand from the door stating, ‘I am going up now, it is a private meeting, you cannot come up.’

Mayor of Abergavenny , Councillor David Simcock said, ‘It was decided to cancel the meeting as it would have been unfair for a self-selected few, undemocratic and very vocal people to have been admitted.’

Councillor Simcock ignored a protester who responded, ‘It is you who is being undemocratic - we only wanted to listen.’

Councillor David Simcock told the Chronicle, ‘The developers approached the council for a meeting to discuss general proposals as part of the pre-planning process; we agreed to a private meeting to hear what they had to say.

‘I understand some people are perturbed at being excluded, but it is a private meeting - it doesn’t imply we are hand in glove with the developers. I live in Cantref and I’m very well aware of the circumstances there.

‘There have been other proposals in the past for this area that have all failed for various reasons. This plan is also outside the Local Development Plan area where there is not supposed to be any pressing need for housing.

“It also borders the Brecon Beacons National Park so there are many circumstances which mitigate against this plan coming to issue.

‘There are also three developments currently taking place in and around the town, so it could be said that Abergavenny is already doing it’s fair share.’

There was a degree of bemusement among protesters about the reasons why Hallam Land Management would wish to consult with the town council as opposed to the decision-making Monmouthshire County Council planning department - which will have the final say on whether any work gets the green light.

The scheme would fall under what the County Council classify as a Level 4 Large Major Development which would be decided by a planning committee made up of elected members. The county council offers a full pre-planning consultation service for would-be developers.

Commenting on the proposed Chapel Farm scheme, Monmouthshire County Councillor, Paul Jordan, said, ‘There would clearly be logistical problems; particularly access for lorries and plant in what is already a congested area, should a plan such as this go ahead.

The completed development would also mean around 200 extra cars for the 130 houses and would also generate a need for school spaces not to mention creating even more pressures on already over-subscribed surgeries.

‘With county population growths proving to be well below the predicted increases one has to ask why these houses are necessary - and more so, why there? The development, if it went ahead would destroy the currently unbroken vista over to the Sugar Loaf and surrounding countryside.’

Following the cancellation of the meeting, the town council issued a statement which read, ‘On Monday evening a meeting was arranged at the town hall. Hallam Land Management had asked to meet the Town Council in order to outline their ideas for a proposed residential development in Cantref Ward.

‘Under current planning legislation in Wales this would have been the first step in a comprehensive pre-application planning consultation involving the whole community.

‘A group of individuals came to the town hall wishing to attend this meeting. Recognising the depth of feeling that the proposal had evoked, the council took the decision that in order to be fair to the whole community, the meeting should be postponed and a fully public presentation be held by Hallam Land Management in due course.

‘Abergavenny Town Council would like to stress that its role in the planning process is advisory only. Planning decisions are made by Monmouthshire County Council’s Planning Committee.’

On the day following the aborted meeting, Hallam Land Management issued a statement saying, ‘Hallam Land Management is promoting land at Chapel Farm Fields for residential development, public open space, allotments, community orchard, landscaping and associated highways and drainage infrastructure.

‘A meeting had been arranged with Abergavenny town councillors to discuss matters relevant to the town and to hear the views of the town’s democratically elected representatives on the opportunities that the site presents for existing and future residents.

‘Developers are actively encouraged to undertake early stage engagement with local communities and town councils are an important initial first step in the process in gaining an understanding and appreciation of an area.

‘However, due to concerns raised by some residents who wished to be part of the meeting, the meeting was cancelled. Hallam will continue to try and engage with the Abergavenny community and town councillors so that interested parties are given opportunities to understand and contribute to the discussion.’